The End of a Dynasty?

By: American Decency Staff

I hope you won't brush off the recent controversy stirred up by Phil Robertson as mere celebrity gossip.

Let me make this clear from the outset, Christians' reaction to A&E's suspension of the Duck Dynasty star may be the loudest bullhorn for Biblical values that we will be given in our lifetime.

Duck Dynasty is the  most watched cable television show.  Ever.

Intrinsic to its popularity have been the values expressed by the cast of the show, and especially Phil Robertson.

Phil has used the Duck Dynasty platform to encourage abstinence before marriage, faithfulness to your spouse, and prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Outside of the show he has used his speaking ministry to call our nation back to God and condemned abortion and gay marriage.

There are few families that would handle the fame given to the Robertsons half as well.

But the inevitable finally happened. People finally stopped just laughing at Phil Robertson and started actually listening to him.

In case you haven't heard, cable network A&E put a pistol to the head of their cash cow, Duck Dynasty, last night after seeing the Robertson patriarch's comments on homosexuality in an interview with GQ.

Here are the offending remarks:

Interviewer: "What, in your mind, is sinful?"

Robertson:"Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.  Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.'

He also said this, "It seems like, to me, a vagina – as a man – would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me.”

Apparently, expressing these beliefs is intolerable and thus the network suspended Phil Robertson from future episodes.

Anyone who has seen Phil Robertson's preaching on YouTube had to see this day coming, because Robertson has been standing firm and using the popularity God has given Him to declare the precepts of the Lord.  Indeed, you may notice that part of the "offensive" remarks are a quote from 1 Corinthians.

The thing that stands out about the GQ article is that the interviewer is blown away by how gracious Phil is and yet how he "thumps the Bible." Phil has been doing nothing more than what every Christian should be doing and he has received the reaction that every Christian can increasingly expect.

Phil gave the following statement on Megyn Kelly's show last night after news of his suspension:

“I myself am a product of the 60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the Bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together.

“However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.”

The popularity of this show and the outrage being expressed is what makes this such a great opportunity to speak up and be heard.

Here are some ideas on how to support Phil Robertson and his (and our) right to share our beliefs.

– Like the "Stand with Phil Robertson" Facebook page
– Sign the "I Stand with Phil" petition
– Email A&E at feedbackaetv@aenetworks.com

– Write A&E at:

 A&E Television Networks, LLC
235 E. 45th St
New York, NY 10017

– Call A&E at 212-210-1400

Not only A&E, but the whole entertainment industry needs to understand that there are millions of us who believe that homosexuality goes against the Word of God and we don't appreciate it when our beliefs are censored.                      

Here's another quote of Phil's from the GQ article which for some reason isn't getting any publicity:  “We never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ’em, give ’em the good news about Jesus—whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort ’em out later, you see what I'm saying?

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